Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: We know we'll have a tough Champions League draw

Arsene Wenger is hoping the luck of the Champions League draw will favour his
team after a 2-0 defeat against Napoli left the Gunners in second place in
their group

Arsène Wenger admitted to his “regret” last night at Arsenal’s failure to win Group F and admitted that he was now left hoping for some luck when the draw for the knockout phase of the Champions League was made on Monday.

Arsenal have drawn Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan in the last 16 during the past three years and will face a similarly difficult challenge this season. Had they avoided defeat against Napoli, or if Borussia Dortmund had not scored their 87th-minute winning goal in Marseille, Arsenal would have finished top of the group and faced Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Schalke, Zenit St Petersburg or AC Milan.

Asked if there were regrets, Wenger said: “Yes of course. That is the frustration because you feel it was open to do better. But it could have been worse as well. Of course to finish second makes the potential draw more difficult.

“In the last four or five years we have always had a difficult draw. Maybe this year we will be a bit luckier. We qualified for the 14th consecutive year for the last 16. Maybe number 14 will give us a bit of luck. A lot can change for us and the team we face.”